The first part of The Sermon on the Mount is called “The Beatitudes”.  These 8 Beatitudes focus on NOT WHAT WE DO.  These 8 Beatitudes focus on the blessings that come to those who show they are living in God’s Kingdom.  These are marks of Kingdom living – what it looks like to live in God’s Kingdom.  And as we live these out, our hearts are filled which produces joy, blessing, and happiness.  Our hearts are filled when we remain in fellowship with God.

1) Our hearts are filled when we are completely dependent on God. (vs. 1-3)  God blesses the poor and those who need Him.  The word “poor” is used in two ways in Greek.  The first is being financially poor.  But the second way is being an outcast or despised.  That’s the definition of poor that Jesus is using.  But poor in what? An outcast of what?  If you read other translations, you’ll see the term “poor in spirit”.  What Jesus is saying is that when we are completely void of ourselves, then we can be filled up with Him.  If we are to live as Kingdom citizens in a fallen world, we have to be poor in ourselves and completely dependent on God.

2) Our hearts are filled when we relationally connect with others. (vs. 4)  We look at those who mourn in connection with those who are poor in spirit.  On an individual level, we mourn our sin because it keeps us from being poor in spirit.  On a community level, we mourn with others who are experiencing pain.   When we mourn with others – in a Kingdom way – we come not full of ourselves, but relationally open.  We are called as brothers and sisters in Christ to enter to each other lives, even if it means it’s hard.  

3) Our hearts are filled when we put ourselves last. (vs. 5)  Meekness is finding a way to serve rather than finding a way to be served.  Our hearts are filled when we put ourselves last.

4) Our hearts are filled when we crave fellowship with God. (vs. 6)  We should long for things to be the way they are supposed to be.  In a way, we are long for what Adam and Eve had in the garden.  And what did they have? They walked with God.  True justice and true righteousness only comes from God.  Our hearts are filled when we crave fellowship with God.  Our hearts are filled when we crave what only comes from God.  We were made for God.  We only have our craving filled when it’s filled with God.  Stop trying to fill it with other stuff from this world.  It won’t work.

5) Our hearts are filled when we show forgiveness and generosity. (vs. 7)  What Jesus was saying:  Because I have shown you so much mercy, you should naturally show mercy to others.  Your hearts will be filled when you show the world the mercy you received from me by showing the world mercy.  Those who know the depth of God’s mercy have a deep well of mercy for others.

6) Our hearts are filled when we stay pure. (vs. 8)  Sin is the great relationship disrupter.  When you let the fallen kingdom of this world take priority over God’s spiritual Kingdom, it messes everything up.  What does it mean that we if we are pure, we see God?  Well, because the opposite is true.  We lose sight of God when we focus on the impure.  If you are seeking clarity from God, start with purity with God.  You will always lose sight of God and what God wants for you if you let purity slip.  

7) Our hearts are filled when we seek to maintain peace. (vs. 9)  There are three parts of this peace:  

1. Peace with both Christians and non-Christians.  We are called to both.
2. Work for peace.  There has to be an intentional effort to seek and maintain peace.  Conflict and issues will always arise.  Peace is always trying to be taken from us.  How do we do that?  That’s the third part of peace
3. Peace is putting the relationship above the issue.  That doesn’t mean we waiver in our biblically grown convictions.  What that does mean is that we don’t de-value the person because of our biblically grown convictions.

8) Our hearts are filled when we do right for Jesus no matter the cost. (vs. 10-12)  Blessed are those who put their relationship with God above all else.  Even if it means pain and hard times come.  Why is that?  Because we know that our final home is not this fallen world.  When we keep the right perspective of where out true citizenship is, then we can find joy in the hard times because there is a great reward coming for us in heaven.

All of this – all the beatitudes – all the kingdom living – the reason we live is because of what Jesus did for us.  Live like Jesus saved you.  Live in this fallen world knowing you belong to the eternal kingdom of God.

I love how Pastor JD Greear wrote the beatitudes in his own words.  Reflect on them:

• Because Jesus has saved us, we can be poor in spirit because we know he promises to be our sufficiency in all things
• Because Jesus saved us, we can enter into other’s pain and mourn because that’s what he did for us.
• Because Jesus saved us, we can be meek and take the 2nd place because that’s what Jesus did for us.
• Because Jesus saved us, we can hunger and thirst for righteousness because the God of righteousness has become our Savior
• Because Jesus saved us, we can’t help but being merciful to others because that’s how he was to us.
• Because Jesus saved us, we want to be pure in heart so we can know him more
• Because Jesus saved us, we can prioritize peace instead of vindication because that’s what he did with us.
• Because Jesus saved us, we can endure persecution because Jesus’ resurrection shows us it is worth it.

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